Illuminator, defroster, deheater, and display device for windows, show cases, and other places



May 6, 1930- J. w.-KAuFFMANN 1,757,718 ILLUMINATOR, DE-FROSTER, DEI-HEATER, AND DISPLAY DEVICE FOR WINDOWS, SHOW CASES, AND OTHER PLACES Filed Aug. 7, 1929 ing the Patented May 6, 193O JOHN W. KAUFFMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ILLUMINA'ron, nnraosfrnn,

DEHEATEB., AND DIsPLAY DEVICE ron. wmows, snow casas, Nn ofrnaa PLAGES l Application mea August?, 192e. serial no. 384,217.

This inventionrelates to means whereby objects on display are illumined, means whereby during certain seasonsv of the yearthe -formation of frost on theglass, of a .5 window is prevented; and whereby, at-other.

'seasons .of the year the deposit ofvv steam .or

vapor on said glass is prevented; andlmeans f whereby a dis lay is made of advertisements L or othery reada le or pictured matter.,r

obtain means whereby the source of illumination of a shop window, or show case, and of the objects therein, will not be disclosed to view through the l glass thereof; an addi- 15 tional object is to obtain a construction which' may be readily installed in place in different sizes of windows and Ashow cases, and which will Aeectually prevent the formation of frost on the glass of the window or show case .dur-

winter season. An additionalobject is to obtain a device by means ofwhich the glass of a window or show case will be protected against the deposit of steam or vapor thereon during the summer season. An addi- -tional object is to obtain a construction of the kind named, by means of which advertisements or other readable or pictured matter may be exposed to view through the glass of a window, show case or other' place, without material obstruction to the view through saidgla'ss-of articles on display'which are illumined by the device.

I have illustrated a construction embody ing this invention in the drawing` referred to, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of said construction. Fig. 2 is a cross section on an enlarged scale, of a horizontal member forming an element of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on line 2-2 of said 40 gure, viewed in the direction indicated by arrows; and a cross section of a portion of the glass of a window or show case, showing -said horizontal member in proper relative position to said glass. And Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the construction embodying Among the objects of this invention 1s' to -l face adapted to v1,757',dilitthe invention, onan enlarged scale,y taken on line 3--3 of Fig. v2,'viewed in the direction indicated by arrows,showing also the parts of saidconstruction which areillustratedin proper position relative to the glass of a windowy or show caser. e 1 v v A reference character applied to designate a given part indicates said part throughout thev several figures ofthe drawing y.wherever the same appears. 7

y Xvrepresents the -glasso'f awindow Vfor show case, and Y represents the frame or sash of said glass. 1 represents a hollow frame which isillustrated in Fig. 1 asextending entirely around and adjacent 'to the ,l edges 'of glass X. Frame 1 is made in sections to perso Y mit the desiredV number and length of sections Y to be installed, `to glass. nor considerable-.f`quantity 'of :air vvescapes through said'joinings. Frame 1 comprises the horizontal members 2, 3 and the vertical members 4, 5 land 6, all of which are preferably made of sheet metal. Said frame also comprises the member 7, which is preferably made of glass, to permit the passage' therethrough of light rays. 8, Fig.2, represents a partition which extends longitudinally the length of hollow frame 1, within said frame. Partition 8 is preferably covered with a surretlect light rays, as say, white enamel. Said partition divides the chamber of said hollow frame into two longitudinally extending chambers, designated 9V and 10, respectively. Chamber 9 is, by me, termed an air conveyin chamber, or an air conduit; and the cham er -1() is termed an illuminating or light giving and heat producing chamber` or conduit.. Partition 8 is provided with apertures 11, through which properly surround said kthe neck of bulbs 12 extend and in which said necks fit loosely. 13,:14, represent two-part sockets of bulbs 12. vSockets 13, 14, are in ordinary use, and comprise part 13, into which the neck of bulb 12 is inserted, and

The sections are closely joined so 'that pintle on which -frame'17 may be turned, 19A represents a slide which is longitudinally movable in guides 20, on the upper face of horizontal member 2 of hollow fra-me 1. 21 represents aperturesin' horizontal member 2,

-- and 22 represents apertures in slide 19. By

changing the longitudinal position of slide 19 the aperture 21 may be wholly or partially p opened, or entirely closed. A portion of said slide is well illustrated in Fig. 3, in position partially closing apertures 21. 23 represents a battle plate in hollow frame 1, which is there placed to prevent 'light rays extending through apertures 21 and 22. The end edge or side 8" of partition 8 also acts as a' baille to light rays,to prevent said rays flowing through apertures 21. 24, 25, respectively represent plates of transparent, (or translucent) material, and 26- re resents translucent material interposed plates-24 and 25. Plate126 may consistof a coat of paint,` or printing, in a translucent color. or pigment. Advertising or other matter in words, figures or pictures desired to be displayed by this device` are placed or mounted-to form plate .26 and are illumined from the rear thereof to be viewed from the front, through the glass X. 27. 28, represent the frame of plates 24, 25 and 26, and 29 rep-l resents supporting rods which extend, from mzember 5 of frame 1 to member 30 of frame 31, Fig. -1 represents air blower and an electric motor adapted to drive blower 31. Blower 31 is arranged so that the discharge pipe or conduit thereof communicates with air conveying chamber or conduit 9. 33 represents an air discharge or exhaust pipe, which is illustrated as secured to the lower horizontal member of hollow frame 1,` by connection,34. .The receiving end of exhaust ypipe 33 is in communication with chamber 10. 35 represents a slideby--means of which the iow of air through exhaust pipe 33 may be wholly or partially obstructed.

36 represents the meeting ends of thejsev-'I era-l sections by which `frame 1 Ais built up. This frame quired in the lower horizontal member of the construction.

part'13 is inserted, usually l v'through the plate 7 ,to illume the shop dow or show case .and the objects displayedl preferably extends entirely` around the glass X, to illume the shop. window or show case; but the apertures 21 and slide 19 with apertures 22 therein are only re-v In operating this device, during the seasons of the year in which frost, steam orvapor is 4liable to form or to appear on glass X, slide -19 is moved to wholly or partially open, (or.

not obstruct) apertures 21 and slide 35 is moved to wholly or partially obstruct passage or exhaust pipe 33, as required; e To operate the device motor 32is energized a'nd blower 31 thereby actuated to forceair into chamber or air conduit 9, and said air iiows from said chamber 9 into chamber 10, around the bulbs of the electric lights 12, through apertures 11; the peripheries of said apertures being in spaced relation to the periphery of said bulbs `to permit said liow.

As the apertures 21 are only made in the lower,A

horizontal member of the frame, air in the chamber 10 moves in said chamber to said.

horizontal member, becoming heatedin said movement by contact with the bulbs of the,

electric lights, and is dischargeable through apertures 2l or exhaust pipe 33, a`s controlled f by the slides 19 and33. When said heated air is discharged through apertures 21 it prevents frost, steam or vapor forming on glass `X; and if there be any on glass X- when the Adevice is put into op'eration, said heated air will remove the saine. This heats the show window to some extent;Y

but prevents any considerable heating of glass X adjacent to its ed `en apertures 21 are. o 19 and slide 35 is moved so frost, steamor vapor es by said bulbs.y structed by slide that the exhaust, a vL pipe 33'is not obstructed, the heated -air in.

the hollow frame is dischargedthrough said and noconsiderable heat passes walls of the device into the shop exhaust pipe through the vWindow or showcase; but 'light' passes therein, as well also, to illume the marks or characters on forming plate 26.

loo

The primary purpose oflpartition 8 is to I maintain air which 1s forced into the hollow frame in as coola'condition as possible before it is discharged 'throu hapertures 11 onto and around electric lig t bulbs 12, by means of which the air is heated.' Whenthe hollow frame does not extend X- the functions named are not: so great,v as

entirely around glass l when the frame is constructedto so extend; l

and under such.' circumstances said partition 8, while advantageous isnot essential.

`vI claim: 1 1'. Ahollow frame, tending partition insa a I longitudinally ex- 'd frame: arranged to obtain an air conduit andan additional con-` l duit extending the'length ofpsaid frame, l said partition provided with apertures,- electric' 1ght sockets secured in one of the walls of apertures to permit the i'low of air from. said air conduit into said additional condult, 1n

'125 said air conduit, electric light bulbsextending through said aperturesv and mounted inv said sockets, said bulbs fitting loosely in ,saidA f combination with means-wherebyair is dis'- charged from said `additional conduit.

2. A hollow frame built `up of sections joined at their meeting ends, a longitudinally extending partition in each of said sections', arranged to obtain anv air conduit and an additional conduit extending the length of said frame, said partitions respectively provided with apertures, electric light socketsmounted in said air conduit, electric light bulbs extending through said a ertures and mounted in said sockets, said ulbs fitting loosely in. said apertures to permit the flow of air from said air conduit into said additional conduit, in combination with means whereby ir is discharged from said additional conuit.

3. A hollow trame, a longitudinally extending partition in said frame arranged to obtain an air conduit and an additional conduit, both said conduits extending the length of said frame, said partition provided'with apertures, electric light sockets mounted in said air conduit, electric light bulbs extend-` ing through said apertures and mounted in said sockets, said bulbs fitting loosely in said apertures to permit the iow of air from said air conduit into said additional conduit, in

' combination with means to direct the fiow of air discharged from said additional conduit.

4. In an illuminator, de-froster, de-heater and display device, a hollow member, a longitudinally extending partition in said member arranged to obtain an air space and anadditional space in said member, said partition arranged to form a reflector, and provided with apertures therethrough, electric light sockets mounted in said air space, and elec'- tric light bulbs extending through said apertures and mounted in said sockets, said bulbs fitting loosely insaid apertures to permit the fiow of air from said air space into' said additional space, all combined as setf forth.

5. In an illuminator, de-froster, de-heater and display device, a plurality of hollow members adapted to be joined and form a hollow frame, longitudinally extending partitions in said members adapted to form conv tinuously extending conduits in said frame, said partition provided with apertures therethrough, electric light sockets mounted' in said ziame, and electric light bulbs extending through said apertures, and mountedl in said sockets. said bulbs fitting loosely in said apertures to permit the flow of air therethrough around said bulbs, all combined as set forth.

6. In an illuminator, de-froster, cle-heater and display device, a hollow member, a longitudinally extending partition in said member, said partition provided with apertures, and electric light sockets mounted in said member, in combination with electric light bulbs extending through said apertures and extending walls mounted in said sockets, and means to mount display matter in position to be illumined from the rear by light from said bulbs.

7. A hollow member adapted to yform a section ina conduit, said member comprising -longitudinally extending walls, one of said walls of transparent material, an additional one of said walls provided with apertures4 trol th'earea o said apertures, in combination with means extending longitudinally in said member to obtain a plurality of spaces,

. said means arranged to form a reiector in oner of said spaces, and said means provided with apertures therethrough, said apertures adapted to permit electric light bulbs to be extended therethrough with the periphery riphery of said apertures. e

9. A member comprising longitudinally one' whereof is of material through 4which light passes and an additional one provided with a plurality of apertures, means to obstruct the passing of light through said apertures, means to control the area of said` apertures, an additional aperture through one of the walls of said member and means to obstruct determined ones of said apertures, in combination with means extending longitudinally in said member'to obtain a pluralityof spaces therein and said,l means provided with apertures therethrough, said apertures adapted to permit electric light bulbs to the periphery of said bulbs in spaced relation to the periphery of said apertures. 10. A hollow member adapted to form a section of a construction comprising a plu-v rality of said sections joined at their meeting ends,'said sections respectively provided with a Wall which permits light to pass therethrough, and means to generate light in said sections, in combination with means to discharge air in a controlled direction from said sections, and means to direct the flow of air in said sections relative to said means to generate light.

'means to generate light in said member,

means to discharge air fromsaid member, in

of said bulbs in spaced relation to the pe- Y be extended therethrough with I combination with means to control and direct the How of air from said member.

12. A hollow member, meansato displayl characters arranged relative to said hollow member to receive light on the under side thereof, means in said member to generate light and means to directlight from said member to the under side of said means'to display, said member provided with a wall of material permittinglight to pass there# through, in combination with means to control the flow of air through said member, and

means permitting the discharge of air from said member. f

JOHN W.` 

